Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi, is still elated after captaining Nigeria to bronze medal at the football event of the just concluded Rio Olympics.
Mikel, 29, excelled both on and off the field for the Africans who endured a torrid campaign to clinch a medal – the sole accolade won by his nation at the event.
He even scored a rare goal and assisted a couple at the tournament in which Nigeria finished third behind Brazil and Germany.
Taking to social media, the midfield maestro showed off his Olympic bronze medal and thanked everyone who helped his “dream come true”.
Thank you to all the players, staff and fans for making this dream come true ???? ???????? now back to Premier League #CFC pic.twitter.com/CM7yUWETVO
— Mikel John Obi (@mikel_john_obi) August 22, 2016
“When I woke up in my hotel room on Sunday morning, I opened my eyes to see my Olympic bronze medal lying there beside me,” the Super Eagles skipper wrote in a diary for the Evening Standard.
“It just hammered home to me what I had achieved with the rest of my Nigeria team-mates the day before.
“We beat Honduras 3-2 to get the bronze and secure Nigeria’s first Olympics medal in any sport since 2008. All of us went into the game knowing this and it put extra pressure on the squad to perform.
“The team actually played very well for the most part. We controlled the game, I created three goals to put us 3-0 up and it was all very comfortable.
“But we conceded two late on and all of a sudden it looked like everything was going downhill. They made us sweat a bit and we were relieved to come out victorious.
“I was obviously very clear before travelling to Brazil that my target was the gold medal. But to get the bronze is still an amazing achievement.
“There was a celebration at the hotel afterwards, we were all jumping around. Everyone was so excited.
“But we managed to get everyone to sit down together and have a team meal. After everything we have been through, it was great to have something to show for it and we all thanked each other.
“I went to sleep last night with my medal beside me; I couldn’t and didn’t want to let it out of my sight.
“It really is a dream come true for me, for my family, my two little angels – my twin baby girls – my wonderful girlfriend, who has supported me all the way.”
Mikel who returns to Stamford Bridge joked he will take his medal to the Blues training ground and hopes he doesn’t make his teammates jealous.
“I might take the medal to the Chelsea training ground to show to the other players – I hope I don’t make them jealous though!
“But first off all I want to celebrate with my family, put it around my daughters’ neck, take pictures and make sure they get to see what daddy achieved.
“This experience has given me the hunger to do it again at the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020. I will be only 33 then and my game will still be at a high level.”
Mikel returns to Chelsea hoping to force his way into Antonio Conte’s starting line-up.
